Apparatus and method for controlling bulk dispensing of wash aid by sensing wash aid concentration

Abstract

A treatment aid dispensing apparatus for an automatic treatment appliance includes a bulk treatment aid dispenser, a sensor coupled with the bulk treatment aid dispenser, and a controller coupled with the sensor and the bulk treatment aid dispenser. A quantity of an undiluted treatment aid can be determined by the controller prior to dispensing from the bulk treatment aid dispenser based upon information from the sensor indicative of a sensed concentration of the undiluted treatment aid. The controller can process the information from the sensor and control the operation of the bulk treatment aid dispenser.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A treatment aid dispensing apparatus for an automatic treatment appliance, the automatic treatment appliance having a treatment chamber, and optionally a water supply fluidly coupled with the treatment chamber, the apparatus comprising:
 a bulk treatment aid dispenser fluidly coupled with the treatment chamber and operable to dispense a selected volume of undiluted treatment aid into the treatment chamber; 
 a sensor coupled with the bulk treatment aid dispenser for outputting information indicative of a sensed concentration of the undiluted treatment aid; and 
 a controller coupled with the sensor and the bulk treatment aid dispenser for processing information received from the sensor and controlling the operation of the bulk treatment aid dispenser; 
 wherein a quantity of the undiluted treatment aid can be determined by the controller prior to dispensing from the bulk treatment aid dispenser into the treatment chamber based upon the sensed concentration of the undiluted treatment aid. 
 
     
     
       2. The treatment aid dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the sensor comprises a refractive index sensor. 
     
     
       3. The treatment aid dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the bulk treatment aid dispenser further comprises a bulk treatment aid dispenser cartridge for fluid coupling with the bulk treatment aid dispenser, the bulk treatment aid dispenser cartridge containing a quantity of an undiluted treatment aid. 
     
     
       4. The treatment aid dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the concentration of the undiluted treatment aid is sensed when the undiluted treatment aid is in the bulk treatment aid dispenser cartridge. 
     
     
       5. The treatment aid dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the sensor comprises a refractive index sensor. 
     
     
       6. The treatment aid dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the concentration of the undiluted treatment aid is sensed when the undiluted treatment aid is in the bulk treatment aid dispenser cartridge. 
     
     
       7. The treatment aid dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein sensing concentration of the undiluted treatment aid comprises sensing at least one of an electrical conductivity, pH, oxidation/reduction potential, and chemical composition of the undiluted treatment aid. 
     
     
       8. The treatment aid dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the bulk treatment aid dispenser comprises a dispenser drawer movable between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
       9. The treatment aid dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the water supply being fluidly coupled to the bulk treatment aid dispenser such that the sensed undiluted treatment aid is flushed into the treatment chamber by water from the water supply. 
     
     
       10. The treatment aid dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the undiluted treatment aid comprises at least one of a detergent, a water softener, a fabric softener, an anti-sudsing agent, a fabric whitening agent, a fabric brightening agent, an anti-spotting agent, a fragrance agent, a deodorizing agent, and a disinfectant. 
     
     
       11. The treatment aid dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the automatic treatment appliance comprises one of a clothes washing machine, clothes dryer, combination clothes washer/dryer, dishwashing machine, fabric freshener, and trash compactor.